Chapter 2

When is your anxiety strongest?▪ Right before the speech ▪ Usually strongest

▪ When the assignment is given▪ Usually second strongest point of anxiety

Anxiety often decreases once speech begins▪ Nerves often appear before big activity▪ Sports competitions▪ Weddings▪ Moving

Psychology affects biology▪ Anxiety created by

View of speaking assignment

Perception of your own skill Level of self esteem

Understand Nervousness▪ Anxiety is created by

Fear of humiliation Not being prepared Worry about looks/appearance Pressure to perform

▪ Other causes of anxiety Fear of being boring Lack of experience Fear of mistakes Fear of failure

4 styles of communication apprehension

▪ Average – Positive approach to communicating in public

▪ Insensitive – Often associated with experienced speakers

▪ Inflexible – Continuous increased heart rate when speaking publicly

▪ Confrontational – High heart rate that goes down during speech

Knowing communication style helps manage anxiety

How you look vs how you feel You are going to feel more nervous than you

look▪ What are some symptoms of speech anxiety?▪ Are all these symptoms visible to your audience?

How to build your confidence as a speaker▪ Things you can do to manage speech anxiety

Before speech▪ Don’t procrastinate in preparing speech▪ Leads to “Self fulfilling prophecy”

▪ Know audience▪ Familiarity with audience will help reduce anxiety

How to build your confidence Select appropriate topic

▪ Familiar/comfortable topics reduce anxiety

▪ What are things you are interested in?▪ Is it easier to talk about them?

Be Prepared (Think about speech in advance)

▪ More preparation = less anxiety▪ Create a well organized outline▪ Practice, Practice, Practice!

How to build confidence Re-create speech environment during

practice▪ You want practice to be as close to presentation as possible

Use deep breathing techniques▪ To balanceth e changes in breathing and heart rate that

occur when you get nervous▪ Also helps to relax

How to build your confidence Channel your nervous energy

▪ Adrenaline can cause nervous movement▪ Use movement to channel nervous energy

Visualize your success▪ Control anxiety by imagining success▪ Visualizing stages in speech beforehand

To help as you reach them

How to build your confidence Give yourself a mental pep talk▪ Self reassurance can work wonders for

confidence▪ Positive self talk▪ Negative Self Talk

Focus on message not on fear▪ More thoughts about nervousness▪ Increases anxiety

▪ Think about what’s coming up ▪ Not about how you feel

How to build confidence Look for positive listener

support ▪ Positive feedback helps reduce anxiety▪ Negative feedback may increase anxiety

Seek Speaking opportunities▪ More speaking = more comfort▪ Become a better more seasoned speaker

How to build your confidence After speech, ▪ Focus on accomplishment, not on you anxiety▪ Reviewing the speech based on your successes▪ Will create a positive memory of the experience